Fiji is a group of over 300 islands in the South Pacific with a population of approximately 920,000. The first settlers were Polynesians and Melanesians, and Europeans arrived in the mid-1600s. Fiji gained independence in 1970 but experienced political instability due to coups in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Fiji is a republic with three branches of government and a diverse economy based on natural resources and agriculture. The official languages are English and Fijian, and the most prevalent ethnic groups are Fijians and Indians.
Fiji, officially called the Republic of the Fiji Islands, is a group of islands located in the South Pacific Ocean. It consists of over 300 islands and its total land area is somewhat smaller than that of New Jersey. Its population is approximately 920,000 and nearly 90% live on Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, the two largest islands in Fiji.
The first settlers were from other areas of the South Pacific and arrived around 1000 BC. These settlers were Polynesians and Melanesians, two sets of ancestors of modern Fijians. Europeans first visited the islands in the mid-1600s, but did not settle there permanently until Fiji became a colony of the United Kingdom in the late 1800s. Fijians gained independence in 1970 and established a democratic government .
Nearly twenty years later, two military coups occurred because Fijians believed the government was dominated by Indians. The coups led to the tightening of control of Fiji and massive Indian emigration. Despite the coups, the 1999 elections brought an Indo-Fijian to the leadership of the government. However, more coups in the early 2000s created even more political instability.
The government of Fiji is a republic with three branches of government. The executive branch is headed by a president as head of state and a prime minister as head of government. The legislative branch is headed by a two-chamber Parliament, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Members of the Senate are appointed by the president and prime minister, while seats in the House of Representatives are assigned to various ethnic groups. Finally, the judiciary is presided over by the Supreme Court, whose judges are appointed by the president.
Fiji controls diverse natural resources and agricultural products such as timber, gold, cassava, sugar, copper, livestock, fish, bananas, and hydroelectricity. Its economy is one of the most developed in the South Pacific, although many Fijians still practice a subsistence life. Sugar and tourism are the main sources of income for the country, even though tourism has been hurt by the various coups.
Fiji’s climate is marine tropical, with slight seasonal temperature swings, and the islands are mostly mountains that originated as volcanoes. The official languages are English and Fijian, but Hindustani is also commonly spoken. The most prevalent ethnic groups are Fijians (more than half of the population) and Indians (about 37%). While the majority of Fijians are Christians, over 30% are Hindus, about 7% are Muslims, and the rest follow other religions or follow none at all. The very popular rug and Fiji’s ruga seven team is one of the most successful teams in the world.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
